Wisconsin Pharmacy Tech Schools & Certification

Wisconsin is the 20th most populous state and is home to 5.8 million residents, with major cities like Madison and Milwaukee employing a variety of people with education and experience in health-related fields. In fact, healthcare is a growing industry in the state. Marshfield Clinic is one of the state’s top employers, and pharmacies and clinics throughout the state are also hiring at rapid rates.

In Wisconsin, pharmacy technicians play an important role in the healthcare industry. Technicians ensure that customers get the medication they need safely and efficiently by tending to the needs of the public. There is a growing need for qualified pharmacy technicians, especially with the growth of the aging population in the state. Pharmacy technicians provide customer care by speaking with customers and dispensing medications.

Wisconsin Pharmacy Technician Certification Requirements

Those who are interested in working as pharmacy technicians have to meet some requirements to work in Wisconsin. This field requires significant responsibility, so several regulations are in place. Several routes to certification in Wisconsin are allowed for pharmacy techs, one pathway involving a training program through an accredited school and one involving 12 months of training on the job.

One pathway involves enrolling in a training program. In order to go this route, pharmacy technicians must:

• Be at least 18 years old and have a high school diploma or GED
• Attend an accredited training program or work for 12 months as a pharmacy trainee
• Pass either the PTCB or ExCPT
• Work in a role that reports directly with a pharmacist and assists with technical functions of working in a pharmacy

Employers may require background checks, even if the state does not mandate it. Background checks typically look for a history of substance abuse, since the job requires close contact with a variety of pharmaceuticals.

Having more education and expertise can give job applicants an advantage, even though a formal program may not be required. Technicians are considered more competent and knowledgeable when they have formal training. Plus, the coursework prepares pharmacy tech students for community and healthcare work in the pharmacy setting. Formal coursework also allows technicians to be more successful on these exams.

Wisconsin Pharmacy Technician Careers & Employment Outlook

Wisconsin is seeing an aging population, which means that the rise in prescription medications is also growing. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, pharmacy technicians work in a field that is projected to grow by four percent between 2019 and 2029. As more people rely on prescription medications and are diagnosed with chronic health conditions, growth could expand the field even further. The level of significance in the workplace pharmacy technicians take on may also grow as pharmacists delegate more responsibility to technicians.

In Wisconsin, about 7,990 people are employed as pharmacy technicians. The mean annual wage for Wisconsin pharmacy technicians is about $34,050. This is about on par with the country’s average annual salary for pharmacy technicians.

Wisconsin Schools That Offer Pharmacy Technician Training Programs